Vaporizer



Dec. 21, 1948. A, R, OLSON 2,456,889

VAPORIZER Filed June 9, 1945 INVENTOR 2 37 /36 MR. OLSON )flmM ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 21 1948 um'rao STATES PATENT "OFFICE Phillips Petroleum Delaware Company, a corporation of Application June 9, 1945, Serial No. 598,600

This invention relates to Vaporizers. In a more specific aspect it relates to Vaporizers for liquefied inflammable gases.- In another more specific aspect it relates to systems for the storage, vaporization, and pressure regulation of liquid petroleum gases such as butane, propane, or-mixtures thereof.

One object of my invention is to provide asim plified system for vaporizing such gases.

Another object is to vaporize such gases when atmospheric heat is insufilcient by applying heat in a safe manner.

Other objects are to reduce fire hazards and keep vapor lines free fromliquid. 7

Another object is to vaporize and put pressure on such liquefied gases without heating the entire liquid content of the storage tank.

Other objects are to provide safe, cheap, and economical systems for storing and vaporizing liquid petroleum gas.

Numerous other objects antl advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following specification and claims and studying theaccornpanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away and parts in section of a liquefied gas storage and vaporizing system embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified system embodying my invention.

In Figure l a storage tank 3 is provided for storing liquefied gas 4 and vapors -5 of the liquefied gas. In order to utilize-vapor 5, a vapor supply line 6 is provided, a portion of which may be under the surface of the ground 1 or not as 7 Claims. (Cl. 62-1) desired. Line 6, as indicated by the arrow, leads to various appliances such as stoves, gas lights, etc. (not shown).

In order to regulate the pressure in the latter portion of line 6, a pressureregulating valve 8 is provided. The pressure regulating valve shown is of the diaphragm type having a spring 9, the tension of which is adjustable by means of bolt it and the pressure of the atmosphere may enter above the diaphragm through an orifice l l. Such pressure regulating valves are well known in the art and any of the usual type may be employed in place of that shown. valve i2 may be provided in line 6, preferably adjacent tank 3.

In order to vaporize liquid 4 in accordance with my invention, I provide a vaporizing tank it to which the liquid 4 may be supplied by a liquid supply line It and from which the vapor is trans ferred to line 6 by vapor outlet line l5. In order A shut-off to insure the complete separation of liquid and vapor, I may employ a liquid separator I6, when desirable and the liquid separator shown has baille plates ll for separating the liquid and vapor. However, any other form of vapor liquid sepathe'ground at 33.

. 2 rator may be employed at this point in place of the one I8 which is shown. liquid shutmfi valve ll', preferably at a point adjacent tank 3, when desirable.

In order to heat the vaporizing tank l3 to the degree desired, I have provided a burner I8 which may be any of the usual types of burners. I may employ some catalytic substances such as porous platinum (not shown) which will automatically light burner I8 every time the gas is turned on,

but I prefer to use a pilot light I9 as being a little more certain in operation, especially after a long period of time.

In order to protect the flame of burner it and pilotl 9 so that there will be no explosions, a screen is provided which may consist of an outer cylin' drical screen it and an inner cylindrical. screen 2i through which flame cannot be transmitted because of the fineness of the weave of these screens and the heat conducting ability of the materials employed in making screens 23 and iii.

In order to supply gas to burners it and it, a burner supply line 22 may he provided with a branch 23' for supplying the pilot light. Obviously, branch 23' could run back and connect with line 6 independently of branch 22, but generally this would result in duplication of piping and wouldbe unnecessary. However, my invention In burner supply line 22 there are two pressure regulators 23- and 2d between burner l8 and supply line 6 (or pilot line 23' if it is desired to maintain a. pilot light). Regulators 3'3 and 33 may be in any order in that line as it does not matter which comes first or second. It is also obvious that in some installations it may be considered unnecessary to have either one of regulators 23 and 2 3 or to only haveone of them, in which case the other regulator and its function or both of them may be eliminated without invention." As shown, regulator 23 has a spring 25 tending to hold valve 26 open while diaphra m 21 transmits the pressure in line 28 which may be a branch of liquid supply line id or which line 28 may extend independently back through I tank 3.

A thermal pressure fluid supply bulb 29 is disposed so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank is and when so heated the thermal pressure fluid vaporizes and places a vapor pressure through line 30 through diaphragm 3i of regulator 24 closing the regulator valve against spring 32.

In Figure 2 is shown a modified embodiment of the invention in which storage tank 33 holds liquefied gas 3d and vapors 35'. line 36 is shown which may or may not run under a regulator valve 8 which is the same as the one I may provide a,

A vapor supplt Vapor supply line 36 contains 3 shut-off valve 36 preferably located near tank 33. It will be noted-that the upper end of line 36 in tank 33 is at a point where the tank contains vapor 35. A vaporizing tank i3, the same as in Figure 1, is provided having a vapor outlet line 39 which may contain a shut-off valve 40, the upper end of line 39 extending into the vapor space 35 of tank 33. Vapor line 36 is shown wound in a helix around tank l3 in heat exchange relation to dry the vapor.

The remainder of Figure 2 is exactly as shown in Figure .1 and the liquid supply line H, cut-oil valve i1, gas supply line 22, pilot supply line 23', regulators 23 and 24, pressure supply line 28, and pressure fluid line 30 are given the same numbers as in Figure 1 because they contain the same structure.

Operation porized gas 5 is supplied to the stoves and other equipment (not shown) through line 6 at a constant pressure regulated by pressure regulator-l. Pressure regulator 8, of course, does not regulate the pressure in tank 3 but only regulates the pressure of gas downstream of regulator 8 in line 6 leading to the stoves (not shown) 'as indicated by the arrow.

In cold weather, liquid 4 does not vaporize rapidly enough to maintain the pressurein the latter part of line 6 at the desired pressure so it is necessary to add heat to liquid 4 in order to vaporize it. I have found it very uneconomical to add heat to liquid 4 when in tank 3. I take the liquid from tank 4 through line l4 through vaporizing tank I3. When the pressure in vapor 5 falls to a predetermined point, the pressure transmitted through liquid 4 and line 28 to diaphragm 21 becomes insufficient to overcome the resilient force in spring 25 and as a result valve 26 opens and gas flows through line 22 to burn in burner 18.

The burning in the burner I3 is safe even if explosive gases have accumulated outside of screen 20 as a flame will not pass through the closely woven wire screens 20 and 2i so there is no danger of explosion.

As a safety feature, vaporizing tank i3, when heated above a predetermined temperature will vaporize the liquid in thermal liquid containing bulb 29 the vapors of which pass through line 30 to overcome the resiliency of spring 32 and shut off the gas in line 22.

Vapors leaving the top of tank l3 may contain considerable liquid but this liquid is separated out by striking against batlle plates ill in separator 16 and draining back through line l5 intermittently.

The operation of Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1 except that mixed liquids and vapors from vapor outlet line 39 are sprayed into tank 33 and the vapors are drawn oiT through line 36 and it will be noted that line 36 iswrapped in a hellcal coil around vaporizing tank l3 in order to provide complete vaporization. I

It isbelieved obvious that I have disclosed illustrative embodiments of my invention capable of carrying out allthe objects set forth above and that changes in shape, proportions and arrangement of parts and substitution of equivalent elements may be made without going outside the scope of my invention a defined by the following claims. A large range of positions is possible.

, gases comprising in combination a storage tank for the liquefied gas, said storage tank having a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor supply conduit connected to said vapor outlet, a pressure regulating valve in said vapor supply conduit for limiting the vapor pressure in that portion of said vapor supply conduit on the other side of said regulating valve from said storage tank, a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet and said vaporizing tank, said vaporizing tank having a vapor outlet, a connecting vapor conduit connecting the vapor outlet of said vaporizing tank with said vapor supply conduit at a point between said storage tank and said pressure regulating valve, a vapor liquid separator in said connecting vapor conduit, means to heat said vaporizing tank comprising a main burner, a main burner supply conduit connecting said main burner and said vapor supply conduit at a point on the other side of said pressure regulating valve from said storage tank, a pilot burner, a pilot burner supply conduit connecting said pilot burner and said main burner supply conduit, a first fluid pressure actuated shut-oil valve in said 7 main burner supply conduit at a point between For example in Figure 1 tank l3 could be lower or higher while separator I6 is as low as possible and could be much higher without any limit, as long as l1qu1d will feed from 4 to l3 and be s p rated out in i6.

said pilotburner supply conduit and said main burner, a fluid pressure supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet of said storage tank and said first shut-off valve whereby a predetermined pressure in said storage tank actuates said first shutoff valve, a second fluid pressure actuated shutofi valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a thermal pressure fluid supply bulb disposed so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank, and a thermal pressure fluid con- I duit connecting said second shut-oil valve and said supply bulb whereby a predetermined temperature in said vaporizing tank actuates said second shut-oil valve.

2. A storage and vaporizing system for liquefied gases comprising in combination a storage tank for the liquefied gas, said storage tank having a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor supply conduit connected to said vapor outlet, a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet and said vaporizing tank, said vaporizing tank having a vapor outlet, a connecting vapor conduit connecting the vapor outlet of said vaporizing tank with said vapor supply conduit, a vapor liquid separator in said connecting vaporconduit, means to heat said vaporizing tank comprising a main burner, a main burner supply conduit connecting said main burner and said vapor supply conduit, a pilot burner, a pilot burner supply conduit connecting said pilot burner and said main burner supply conduit, a first fluid pressure actuated shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a fluid pressure supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet of said storage tank and said first shut-off valve whereby a predetermined pressure in said storage tank actuates said first shutoff valve, a second fiuidpressure actuated shutoff valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a, thermal pressure fluid supply bulb disposed-so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank, and a thermal pressure fluid conduit connecting said second shut-off valve and said supply bulb whereby apredetermined temfled gases comprising in combination a storage.

tank for the liquefied gas, said storage tank having a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor supply conduit connected to said vapor outlet, a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet and said vaporizing tank,

said vaporizing tank having a vapor outlet, a connecting vapor conduit connecting the vapor outlet of said vaporizing tank with said vapor supply conduit, means to heat said vaporizing tank comprising a main burner, a main burner supply conduit connecting said main burner and said vapor supply conduit, a pilot burner, a pilot burner supply conduit connecting said pilot burner and said main burner supply conduit, a

' first fluid pressure actuated shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a'point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a fluid pressure supply conduit connect- 1 ing said liquid outlet of said storage 'tank and said first shut-off valve whereby a predetermined pressure in said storage tank actuates said first shut-off valve, a second fluid pressure actuated shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a thermal pressure fluid supply bulb disposed so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank, and a thermal pressure fluid conduit connecting said second shut-off valve and said supply bulb whereby a predetermined temperature in said vaporizing tank actuates said second shut-off valve.

4. A storage and vaporizing system for liquefled gases comprising in combination a storage tank for the liquefied gas, said storage tank having a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor supply conduit connected to said vapor outlet, a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet and said vaporizing tank, said vaporizing tank having a vapor outlet, a connecting vapor conduit connecting the vapor outlet of said vaporizing tank with said vapor supply conduit, a vapor liquid separator in said connecting vapor conduit, means to heat said vaporizing tank comprising a main burner, a main burner supply conduit connecting said main burner and said vapor supply conduit, a pilot burner, a pilot burner supply conduit connecting said pilot burner and said main burner supply conduit, a fluidpressure actuated shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, and a fluid pressure supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet of said storage tank and said shut-oil valve whereby a predetermined pressure in said storage tank actuates said shut-oi! valve. I

5. A storage and vaporizing system for liquefied gases comprising in combination a storage tank forthellquefled gas, said storage tank having a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. a vapor supply conduit connected to said vapor outlet,

a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet and said vaporizing tank, said vaporizing tank having a vapor outlet,

a vapor conduit communicating between said vapor outlet and said vapor supply conduit, means to heat said vaporizing tank comprising a main burner, a main burner supply onduit connecting said main burner and said v por supply conduit, a pilot burner, a pilot burner supply conduit connecting said pilot burner and said main burner supply conduit, a first fluid pressure actuated shut-oil valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a fluid pressure supply conduit connectingsaid liquid outlet of said storage tank and said first shut-oil valve whereby said first shut-off valve is actuated upon the pressure in said storage tank reaching a predetermined pressure, a second fluid pressure actuated shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, 'a thermal pressure fluid supply bulb disposed so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank, and a thermal pressure fluid conduit connecting said second shut-off valve and said supply, bulb whereby said second shut-off valve is actuated upon the temperature within said vaporizing tank reaching a predetermined temperature.

6. A storage and vaporizing system for liquefled gases comprising in combination a storage tank for the liquefied gas, a vapor supply conduit extending from the upper portion of said storage tank, a vaporizing tank, a liquid supply conduit connecting said storage tank and said vaporizing tank, a vapor conduit extending from said vaporfluid pressure supply conduit connecting said liquid outlet of said storage tank and said first shut-off valve whereby said first shut-01f valve is actuated upon the pressure in said storage tank reaching a predetermined pressure, a second fluid pressure actua'ted shut-off valve in said main burner supply conduit at a point between said pilot burner supply conduit and said main burner, a thermal pressure fluid supply bulb disposed so as to be heated by said vaporizing tank, and a thermal pressure fluid conduit connecting said second shut-oil? valve and said supply bulb whereby said second shut-off valve is actuated upon the temperature within said vaporizing tank reaching a predetermined temperature.

' 7. The system oi claim 6, wherein a. secondary vaporizer is provided in said vapor supply conduit, which comprises a section 01 said vapor supply conduit in heat exchange relation with said vaporizing tank,

ANDREW R. OLSON.

REFERENCES 'crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

